Prince, Greinke have history

When Prince Fielder met Zack Greinke in 2001, he didn’t know Greinke would someday be the American League Cy Young Award winner. Fielder didn’t know Greinke could pitch at all.

The Orlando natives played together in showcases when they were high school juniors and seniors. Fielder was a first baseman, of course, and Greinke played third base.

“I didn’t know he pitched until I say him on TV [later],” Fielder said. “I knew he could throw hard, but I knew he could hit, too. He hit third in the showcase, so that’s pretty good.”

Greinke will get his chance to hit in 2011. After seven seasons with the Royals in the AL, including a 2009 in which he 16-8 for a 65-97 team, posted a 2.16 ERA and won the Cy Young Award, Greinke was traded to the Brewers in December. He should fit right in – Brewers pitchers led the league last year in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs and RBIs.

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